Posted: 9/4/2026 4:12:40 PM EDT
[Last Edit: doubleclaw][Edited]
|
Well, I done did it again. Plinked down WAY too much money on a big, fat Smith & Wesson Model 29-4, 3" full underlug, unfluted cylinder, MagNaPort snubbie in .44 Magnum. Buddy of mine turned me on to it, I looked it over and made an offer, so here we are. This is my third .44 Magnum Smith in as many years, but this one checks all the boxes for me as far as what I wanted, and i figure it will be money well spent if I don't get stress fractures in my forearms from shooting it too much. I read up on these, and found out that they number around 2500 units sometime around 1989 or later, and don't come around very often, hence the great big pile of lettuce I had to shovel out for it. Whatever. I'm a glutton for punishment, and this hogleg ought to deal it out on both ends. I'll post a pic or two of it later, but for right now, I'm happy as a clam over this purchase. Can't wait to see how it shoots. if it's anywhere near as good as my 629-6, it'll do to go on with. Here she is. Original box, original cleaning kit, round butt, wide target hammer and trigger, pristine bore, a little “grip goo” under the pachys that wiped off with a little oil, and I couldn’t be happier. $1605 out the door, but money well spent, I think. These don’t turn up every day.   
|
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By DoctorCAD: It would be cheaper to just put your hand in a vice and turn the handle That is true, but it wouldn’t be as much fun as blowing great big holes in stuff with this snub nosed flamethrower. |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By akethan: The shorty is the most fun. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/14209/20250723_221719-3609987.jpg NIIIIIICE!! I’ve always been a fan of the N Frame, as far back as I can remember. My 4” 629-6 locks up like a bank vault when I close the cylinder, and I just love that solid feeling when it clicks into place. |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
I have a Lew Horton 3" fluted cylinder , full underlug. I don't believe S&W ever cataloged a 3" 629 but Lew Horton and several distributers had batches of them made up. Now it does have fairly heavy reoil with full loads but when you compare the weight of the three inch compared to a full size the difference isn't as great as one might expect. Cook up a handload that knocks the load level about 1/2 way down the scale to a 44sp and you have something that is quite a shooter, Even talking a full 44 mag load I would much rather shoot that than the alloy .357 snubbies |
Whenever some one starts a thread with their beautiful S&W 29's I feel compelled to post my lowly 29-3, in it's defense it's honest wear.  Attached File |
America is at that awkward stage, it’s too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards....Claire Wolfe
I was given a 3" 629 by a dear friend before he passed. It is a great for packing when out in the woods. I carried mine quite a bit when I had a ranch property down in New Mexico. I have an El Paso Saddlery "Tortilla" pancake rig for it: 
|
"This would have never happened at Black Mesa"
“So shines a good deed in a weary world”
“So shines a good deed in a weary world”
|
Originally Posted By 50-140: Whenever some one starts a thread with their beautiful S&W 29's I feel compelled to post my lowly 29-3, in it's defense it's honest wear. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/103648/IMG_0148_jpeg-3822353.JPG Ain’t nothing lowly about that 29! |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
Joined:
Jun 2026
Posts:
8
EE: 0% (0)
USA
| Great buy! New S&W revolvers MSRP for like ~$1100-$1400 and are probably nowhere near the build quality of that beauty. My new S&Ws are fine and all, but my friend's 70's era m29 (factory, no mods nothing) is an absolute piece of artwork not just cosmetically but the trigger, fit, function... oh man. I hope you shoot that baby all the time! |
|
Originally Posted By M15A2CLE: I could see $1600 for that… What is the toy vs tool value on that? Probably more toy. Hard to shoot a 3”. Some 180-200gr’rs at 1100fps could be fun and effective. This one is gonna get carried, as I live in a fairly woodsy semi rural area where people don’t get a case of the vapors over the sight of a handgun. I use HSM 200 gr. Cowboy Action loads for practice, and they’re a lot of fun at 950 FPS. My 3.5” 629 Deluxe seems to like them a lot, and even the full power 240 gr. loads aren’t all that bad with a pair of Pachmayr Decelerators on it. This ported six shooter should be a real pussycat with .44 Specials. |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By bluealtered: I love the looks of that little flame thrower. Look at it this way, when your fingers no longer work from shooting it, you still have your toes to learn to shoot with! 
|
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By nhsport: I have a Lew Horton 3" fluted cylinder , full underlug. I don't believe S&W ever cataloged a 3" 629 but Lew Horton and several distributers had batches of them made up. Now it does have fairly heavy reoil with full loads but when you compare the weight of the three inch compared to a full size the difference isn't as great as one might expect. Cook up a handload that knocks the load level about 1/2 way down the scale to a 44sp and you have something that is quite a shooter, Even talking a full 44 mag load I would much rather shoot that than the alloy .357 snubbies I practice with .38 SPL in my Model 19 for the same reason, plus I don’t want to put too much wear and tear on it. This 29-4 will get the same treatment, with HSM .44 magnum cowboy action loads for practice, and spicier ammo for street use. These guns are so gratifyingly accurate, it makes you want to shoot them all the more. Completely agree on those alloy framed .357 snubs. I used a weightlifting glove to shoot full house loads out of a friends lightweight .357, because it was just too punishing for bare handed use. My .44s are tame in comparison. |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By doubleclaw: NIIIIIICE!! I’ve always been a fan of the N Frame, as far back as I can remember. My 4” 629-6 locks up like a bank vault when I close the cylinder, and I just love that solid feeling when it clicks into place. Originally Posted By doubleclaw: Originally Posted By akethan: The shorty is the most fun. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/14209/20250723_221719-3609987.jpg NIIIIIICE!! I’ve always been a fan of the N Frame, as far back as I can remember. My 4” 629-6 locks up like a bank vault when I close the cylinder, and I just love that solid feeling when it clicks into place. I forgot about this guy. It's a hoot as well. 
|
"I miss the days of being able to shoot all commies" G.B.
|
Originally Posted By 03RN: Nice. Is that a square butt? Round butt! I’ve heard that these take K Frame grips, so I will be digging around in the parts box for some of my other grips to see if that’s true or not. |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By akethan: I forgot about this guy. It's a hoot as well. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/14209/518-3669994.jpg That is one sexy single action right there. |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By doubleclaw: Round butt! I’ve heard that these take K Frame grips, so I will be digging around in the parts box for some of my other grips to see if that’s true or not. Originally Posted By doubleclaw: Originally Posted By 03RN: Nice. Is that a square butt? Round butt! I’ve heard that these take K Frame grips, so I will be digging around in the parts box for some of my other grips to see if that’s true or not. Do you mean all round butt n frames or just this model? Standard roundbutt k/l grips dont fit correctly on standard n frame roundbutts |
Do Good
Be Dangerous
Live Free
Be Dangerous
Live Free
|
Originally Posted By M15A2CLE: I could see $1600 for that… What is the toy vs tool value on that? Probably more toy. Hard to shoot a 3”. Some 180-200gr’rs at 1100fps could be fun and effective. At least with the full lug and unfluted cylinder it's got a bit of weight. I'd love to see the weights of every configuration in a nice chart. Originally Posted By wildearp: Magnaport sure makes a difference with those. It is still fairly cheap and a quick turnaround if anyone is considering it. I have a 3" 629 looks just like OP's but no porting. I think it's a Lew Horton gun. I've thought about sending mine out to magnaport a few times but I just don't shoot it. I carried it in Alaska for a while but since I've moved down here I don't think I've shot it more than a couple times. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
|
Originally Posted By 03RN: Do you mean all round butt n frames or just this model? Standard roundbutt k/l grips dont fit correctly on standard n frame roundbutts Just this model, from what I have read, and it’s only certain K Frame grips that work. Pachmayr Grippers are what’s on it now, and I’ve seen photos of the interior grip surfaces that were marked K. I’ll have to wait till I get home in November to find out for sure. If it’s true, I’m gonna try a set of Rogers Conbat Grips on this thing. I also have a set of Herrett’s Bill Jordan K RB grips on my Model 19 that I might try fit as well. Possibilities… |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By doubleclaw: Just this model, from what you have read, and it’s only certain K Frame grips that work. Pachmayr Grippers are what’s on it now, and I’ve seen photos of the interior grip surfaces that were marked K. I’ll have to wait till I get home in November to find out for sure. If it’s true, I’m gonna try a set of Rogers Conbat Grips on this thing. I also have a set of Herrett’s Bill Jordan K RB grips on my Model 19 that I might try fit as well. Possibilities… Originally Posted By doubleclaw: Originally Posted By 03RN: Do you mean all round butt n frames or just this model? Standard roundbutt k/l grips dont fit correctly on standard n frame roundbutts Just this model, from what you have read, and it’s only certain K Frame grips that work. Pachmayr Grippers are what’s on it now, and I’ve seen photos of the interior grip surfaces that were marked K. I’ll have to wait till I get home in November to find out for sure. If it’s true, I’m gonna try a set of Rogers Conbat Grips on this thing. I also have a set of Herrett’s Bill Jordan K RB grips on my Model 19 that I might try fit as well. Possibilities… That's funny, I just put a pair of those Roger's grips on a m10 last night |
Do Good
Be Dangerous
Live Free
Be Dangerous
Live Free
|
Attached File Attached File |
NRA Benefactor Life, FPC, SAF Life, GOA
Joined:
Sep 2022
Posts:
3391
EE: 0% (0)
TX, USA
|
629-3 Classic purchased new in the early 90s. Newer hard case but still also have original cardboard box. Attached File |
No good will come from me a fightin' your war....-John Carter
|
Originally Posted By 03RN: That's funny, I just put a pair of those Roger's grips on a m10 last night I have a set of Safariland branded ones on my Model 36 no dash, and they’re amazingly comfortable. I love the Bakelite look on a blued revolver. |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
The 4” 629 is one of my all time favorites. My son shooting mine: 
|
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By doubleclaw: I have a set of Safariland branded ones on my Model 36 no dash, and they’re amazingly comfortable. I love the Bakelite look on a blued revolver. Originally Posted By doubleclaw: Originally Posted By 03RN: That's funny, I just put a pair of those Roger's grips on a m10 last night I have a set of Safariland branded ones on my Model 36 no dash, and they’re amazingly comfortable. I love the Bakelite look on a blued revolver. One of my my m10s Attached File |
Do Good
Be Dangerous
Live Free
Be Dangerous
Live Free
|
Originally Posted By 03RN: One of my my m10s https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/433221/1000005716_jpg-3827100.JPG Those grips are beyond cool. |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
)